Sliding the Doors: Locking and Unlocking Possibilities for Teacher Leadership

This case study describes the experience of three teacher leaders who attempt to lead from within their classroom. Interview and biographical data were collected and analyzed both within case and across cases. The cases individually describe the experiences of teacher leaders and the cases collectively help us define the components of teacher leadership along with the barriers and facilitators that teacher leaders face. The results of these analyses identify the following assertions: teacher leaders navigate the structures of schools, teacher leaders nurture relationships, teacher leaders model professional growth, teacher leaders help others with change, and teacher leaders challenge the status quo by raising children's voices. These assertions suggest the need for rethinking organizational structures that inhibit as well as facilitate teacher leadership from within the classroom.